WEBVTT DRUGS.THIS PROPOSAL IS CONSIDERED ANEFFECTIVE WAY TO INTERVENE ANDREDUCE DEATHS. YOU ARE WITNESSING WHAT GOES ONIN A SAFE CONSUMPTION SPACE. THIS ONE IS IN VANCOVER, CANADA.IT'S A LEGALLY SANCTIONEDFACILITY THAT PROVIDES A CLEANAREA FOR THOSE WHO MISUSE DRUGSTO CONSUME THEM UNDER THESUPERVISION OF TRAINED STAFF. >> WHAT THE DATA SHOWS ISOVERDOSE DEATHS GO DOWN. SYRINGES ON THE STREETDISAPPEAR, DISEASE GOES DOWN,MORE PEOPLE GO INTO TREATMENT,THERE'S LESS CRIMEDAVID: DR. DAN MORHAIM ISSPONSORING LEGISLATION TO CLEARTHE WAY FOR LOCAL HEALTHDEPARTMENTS TO SET UP THIS TYPEOF FACILITY. >> THIS BILL DOES NOT REQUIREANYBODY TO DO ANYTHING. IT IS ENABLING A LOCAL HEALTHDEPARTMENT, OR EVEN A FAITFACILITY. A CHURCH COULD HAVE A SAFECONSUMPTION FACILITY WITHOFEAR THEY ARE GOING TO BEARRESTED. DAVID: A SOON TO BE RELEASEDABELL FOUNDATION STUDY SUPPORTSTHE CONCEPT. ITS RESEARCH FINDS THESEPLACES REDUCE OVERDOSE DEATHS INTHE IMMEDIATE AREA OF FACILITY,REDUCES DRUG USE, CONNECTMISUSERS TO SERVICES, AND IT'SCOST EFFECTIVE >> IT IS NOT ENABLING. IT'S NOT SUPPORTING SUBSTANCEABUSE, WHICH I AM TOTALLYOPPOSED TO. DAVID: THE ABELL FOUNDATION HASRECOMMENDATIONS SPECIFIC TOBALTIMORE CITY THAT INCLUDPROVIDING HOUSING, LEGAL ANDMENTAL HEALTH REFERRALS,LOCATIONS IN EAST AND WEBALTIMORE, DEALING WITH AVARIETY OF DRUG CONSUMPTIONMETHODS, INCLUDE FORMER ANDCURRENT DRUG MISUSERS, ENGAGE INPARTNERSHIPSHOWEVER, FORMER BALTIMORE COUNTYDRUG CZAR MIKE GIMBEL OPPOSES,ARGUING, "THE STATE OF MARYLANDSHOULD BE MORE FOCUSED ONPROVIDING LONG TERM RESIDENTIALDRUG TREATMENT TO HELP ADDICTSGET CLEAN, NOT GET HIGH." >> SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO GO WITHTHE FACTS, AND IN THIS CASE THIS ANOTHER TOOL, NOT THE ONLYTOOL, NOT THE BEST TOOL, BUTANOTHER IMPORTANT PIECE TRYITO DEAL WITH THIS COMPLICATEDPROBLEM. DAVID: THE ABELL FOUNDATIONNOTES THERE ARE SOME LEGAL RISSINCE DRUGS ARE ILLEGAL, BUTSUGGESTS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS COULDGET AROUND THAT WITH THE BACKINGOF LEGISLATION VIEWING THESEFACILITIES AS A REASONABLEPUBLIC HEALTH MEASURE.

State lawmakers are considering what many view as a radical approach to curbing the misuse of drug.

The legislation clears the way for local health departments to set up what are called safe consumption spaces.

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According to a soon to be released report by the Abell Foundation, an estimated 19,000 people inject drugs in Baltimore City. The proposal is considered an effective way to intervene and reduce deaths.

A safe consumption space, like one in Vancouver, Canada, is a legally-sanctioned facility that provides a clean area for those who misuse drugs to consume them under the supervision of trained staff.

Morhaim is sponsoring legislation to clear the way for local health departments to set up this type of facility.

"This bill does not require anybody to do anything. It is enabling a local health department or even a faith facility, a church could have a safe consumption facility without fear they are going to be arrested," Morhaim said.

A soon to be released Abell Foundation study supports the concept. Its research finds these facilities reduce overdose deaths in the immediate area of facility, reduce drug use, connect misusers to services and it's cost effective.

The Abell Foundation has recommendations specific to Baltimore City that include providing housing, legal and mental health referrals, locate in east and west Baltimore, deal with a variety of drug consumption methods Include former and current drug misusers engage in partnerships.

However Baltimore County drug czar Mike Gimbel opposed, saying, "The state of Maryland should be more focused on providing long term residential drug treatment to help addicts get clean, not get high."

"Sometimes we have to go with the facts and in this case this is another tool, not the only tool, not the best tool, but another important piece trying to deal with this complicated problem," Morhaim said.

The Abell Foundation notes there are some legal risks since drugs are illegal, but suggests local governments could get around that with the backing of legislation, viewing the facilities as a reasonable public health measure.